New Videos Out!!

Recently, I did a project with il Santo Bevitore for their menu covers and I took the opportunity to record the sketch process inside the kitchen. I've had numerous requests on how I sketch moving objects, specifically people, so I did I tutorial on it too.  The paid tutorial will be for those who are interested in the technicality of sketching in such a situation and will be downloadable. The free time-lapse of the sketch process will be available as a streaming only video. 

https://gumroad.com/l/cBRD

downloadable (€2)

7 min video

 https://gumroad.com/l/GZoa

streaming only (free) 

7 min video

Instructions for those using Gum Road for the first time:

(The time-lapse clip is free for now, so check it out!!)

1. Click on "I Want This"

2. Enter "0" for € is unless you feel compelled to support the artist. 

3. And then key in your email address.

(You should immediately see a "play" button.)

If you know of friends that might enjoy this, please forward them this link. Thank you!!  :)

 Other videos can be found on my account on Gum Road.

Aurora - the process

Aurora is 'dawn' in Italian. In the Dawn tomb of Lorenzo di Medici at the Medici Chapel is a sculpture piece by Michelangelo. Click here for a link to see the full-sized reclining figure. 

Recently, I completed a 13-week study on the bust of Dawn. Why did it take 13 weeks and not 13 hours?  Simply because oil paint is built on layers and the method of achieving a highly finished piece of work demands this kind of attention.  Here are the main steps to the process in case you might like to try this out someday! 

So I begin with a 50cm x 70cm campitura of a value #3. 

The most important step is the foundation and this is the drawing phase. I spend a lot of time on this section to make sure all the shapes are in place. A little shadow is added to help me see those shapes better.

 The next phase is the dead colouring phase where basic colours are laid down.

 Here is where I begin to do a general gradation of colours to bring out the big form of the volumes. This is where values and ideas like fall of light come to play.

The 1st painting stage breaks down the general big form modelling into smaller fragments.

Finally, the 2nd painting focuses on the even smaller sub-forms and brings this piece to a high-quality finish.

If you would like to follow my art on Facebook, go here:

https://www.facebook.com/alvinmark.art

Time-lapse of mobile book vendor sketch

Hi from the streets of Florence!

The mobile book vendor is a really neat idea. Selling books wherever you want without the overhead costs... click on the link below to see my sketch process...

https://gumroad.com/l/ljlt

Instructions for those using Gum Road for the first time:

(This mobile book vendor clip is free now! Limited to the first 100 viewers.)

1. Click on "I Want This"

2. Enter "0" for € is unless you feel compelled to support the artist - me. 

3. And then key in your email address.

(You should immediately see a "play" button.)

If you know of friends who might enjoy this, please forward them this link. Thank you!!  :)

 Other videos can be found here --> Gum Road.

Time-lapse: Via dei Neri (facing the Duomo)

Here's a demo of the sketch I did recently on Via dei Neri. 

The Duomo, from Via dei Neri,

30cm x 42cm

ink on Fabriano

Click here for the video:

https://gumroad.com/l/orHr

Instructions for those using Gum Road for the first time:

(This Via dei Neri clip is free for now, so check it out!!)

1. Click on "I Want This"

2. Enter "0" for € is unless you feel compelled to support the artist - me. 

3. And then key in your email address.

(You should immediately see a "play" button.)

Do send me feedback about using this platform. 
If you know of friends that might enjoy this, please forward them this link. Thank you!!  :)

 Other videos can be found on my account on Gum Road.

Arno River Plein Air

A fellow artist and great friend of mine pointed me to a location south east of the Arno river about a 15 minute bike ride from my place. Not too far at all if you ask me. 

Over the locked gate I climb and down to the banks of the Arno is where I set up my station. Near this spot is a mini dam that cuts across the river diagonally. Across from me is a semi grassy patch where people come to get a tan or have a picnic if they so wish.  I've got my brushes and paints ready, coupled with the calming sound of the made made mini waterfall in front of me and the breezy autumn sun behind my back, I begin this plein air session...

Rough sketch on the 30cm x 40cm wood panel with some raw umber. 

Next, I plant in the local colours in its right value. 

 Orange-brown pigments are added next on the roofs of this privately owned estate. I continue to chisel more into the shapes.

Finally, I add little scrubs of paint here and there for effects like windows, water reflections, people, etc... and focus on edge quality. 

Be Our Guest!

I had an incredible summer here in Florence! :) 

It has come to a close. The freak hail storm this afternoon that made Florence look like it just snowed was the unofficial MET announcement saying, "It's Autumn!" There'll be fewer of my outdoor ink sketch postings. But I will continue to put work out from the studio. So stay tune for that as you follow me here and on my Facebook Art Page. 

8 pieces of my ink sketches were selected for the new menu covers at Il Santo Bevitore Restaurant in Florence. Formerly a horse carriage stop, it evolved into a motorcar garage and finally, a restaurant. 6 of the menus feature the behind the scenes in the restaurant, from main kitchen to dessert kitchen to private dinning area, not to mention also, the aperitif bar, Santino, two shops down. The other two are market scenes from my collection of Firenze sketches from 2014. 

 Main dining hall of Il Santo Bevitore. Incidentally, I took a really long time for this sketch... approximately 2.5 hours that came with 2 servings and a dessert. :)

 Main kitchen of Il Santo Bevitore

Mauro Frutta, Via dè Cerchi 16R 

Dessert Menu featuring dessert kitchen of Il Santo Bevitore 

 I was also able to design the layout for these menu covers

to ensure what needs to be shown will be shown. :)

Menu featuring Santino 

 The back page contains all my informational links so that customers

can contact me if they so wish to purchase or commission art.

Time-lapse: Cotton Candy Vendor

Cotton Candy Vendor

30cm x 42cm, Ink on Winsor and Newton Paper

Hi there!! The response from the first time-lapse video was incredible that I decided to produce another. This was shot during the night, so you can see how easily ink on paper can be applied even when the surrounding is dark. The focus on this looser ink sketch would be on shapes and basic values. I've also lengthened this clip to some extent so you'll see more happening as I sketch. 

Go here for the video:

https://gum.co/GGGr

Instructions for those using Gum Road for the first time:

(This Cotton Candy Vendor clip is free for now, so check it out!!)

1. Click on "I Want This"

2. Enter "0" for € is unless you want to share your lottery winnings :)

3. And then key in your email address.

(You should immediately see a "play" button.)

Do send me feedback about using this platform. If you know of friends that might enjoy this, please forward them this link. Thank you!!  :)

 Other videos can be found on my account on Gum Road.